Oddball Movies: Videodrome
This weird hybrid sci-fi/horror/suspense thriller film is both very indicative of Cronenberg’s style and an example of the sort of film that James Woods would probably like to forget he was in. Max Renn (Woods) is a cable television programmer in Canada, working for a station that is known for violent, offensive and shocking programming- think Fox without the cartoons. Through a pirate satellite, he is able to intercept programming from around the world: he stumbles upon an amateurish looking show called “Videodrome,” and becomes instantly enthralled. This show is unlike anything that he has seen previously. No plot, no characters, just pure visceral thrills. Before his eyes are instances of bondage, rape and other manners of violence. He is enthralled but does not know why. Later, while defending his choice of programming, he becomes involved with radio personality Nicki Brand (Deborah Henry,) who also becomes interested in the show: she proves to be quite the sadistic woman. Soon, the show causes Renn to have hallucinations, bad trips and other psychedelic experiences, by turns making him go crazy and act violent. Will he ever uncover the horrible truth? Watch to find out, unless you too are afraid of becoming utterly lost IN THE VIDEODROME!!
Well, that last bit was certainly unnecessary, but so it goes. This movie, I’d argue, is significant for several reasons. First, it tackles some heavy cultural issues dealing with human interactions toward media, responses to violence and that thin line between the real and the unreal. The film is based on the public’s addiction to television, and the somewhat disturbing trend to demand shows that are increasingly real, violent and graphic. Videodrome is certainly violent in its own right, but its violence is used to juxtapose the violence of the “real” world (the world of the film) with the “fake” world (the world of television and films within the film): thus, the critiques in this film are layered fairly deeply. The sorts of shows in the film are mere caricatures of what is actually on T.V., but the approximations are close enough to ring true. When taken very literally, the film has a nice, moralistic message: by watching too much T.V., especially trashy T.V., you will die! Either you will explode in a mess of flesh like some of the characters in the film, or you will go crazy enough to blow your own head off. Also imbedded in the narrative is the sort of corporate paranoia that one finds in other Cronenberg films. Nearly every character is against Max in some way, many of whom he once counted on as friends. Scanners, Shivers, and eXistenz all have tinges of these evil conglomerates. From Videodrome, we can confirm two things about Cronenberg and his films: that he has a fascination with the connection between the mind and the flesh, and how each can turn on the other in order to destroy the body, and that he dislikes capitalism.
If you liked Ring and Ringu (two films that deal with killer television,) try this one on for size. It is almost 20 years older, but just as thrilling. Or, if you are a fan of any movie in which major corporations are seen as total villains, give this movie a once over.
